Blockbuster Movies Coming in 2014

The 2014 movie season has begun, and there are some blockbuster movies coming out this year. With the rising price of movie tickets, not to mention the absolutely ridiculous premium on popcorn, no one wants to waste time and money on a dud. Here is a list of movies coming in 2014 that are creating a buzz.

For horror-action fans, the first offering of the year is “I, Frankenstein”, a graphic novel adaptation brought to you from the mind of Kevin Grevious, the creator of the Underworld franchise. The movie reimagines Shelley’s classic gothic tale of Frankenstein’s Monster as a comic-book style hero caught in the middle of a centuries-old war between gargoyles and Demons. Aaron Eckhart plays the role of Frankenstein’s monster, Adam, and Bill Nighy places Naberius, the demon-prince who wants the monster dead. The action and special effects alone make this movie worth a peek.

Also within the supernatural-action genre is “Vampire Academy”, which is based on the best-selling books by Richelle Mead. This teen flick introduces some variations on the traditional vampire mythology, portraying three flavors of vampires, including half-vamps, a la Blade, peaceful mortal vampires and evil immortal nightstalkers. The lead characters in the movie are portrayed by Lucy Fry and Zoey Deutch, and the role of the vampire-fighting mentor is handled by Danila Kozlovsky. Fans of “The Vampire Diaries”, “The Originals” or just all things undead should find a solid evening’s entertainment in this one.

In the remake department, there is a new iteration of the 1987 Paul Verhoeven sci-fi blockbuster “Robocop.” The original film is a cult classic that spawned two sequels and a franchise that includes live-action and animated television series’, video games and action figures, and the producers of the remake hope that enough time has passed to let them recapture lightning in a bottle. This version of the cyborg cop is directed by Jose Padilha and stars Joel Kinnaman in the title role. The advances in special effects over the last thirty years should help this movie to succeed visually, and the basic plot looks to remain relatively unchanged, so those who enjoyed the original should find this version entertaining as well.

Another blockbuster remake, although of a very different flavor, comes in the form of “About Last Night.” This remake of the 1986 Brat Pack romantic comedy, which was itself an adaptation of the David Mamet stage play “Sexual Perversity in Chicago”, has a high bar to reach if it intends to match the original, which helped to launch several careers. This version features a more diverse cast, including Michael Ealy, the ubiquitous Kevin Hart and the lovely Regina Hall. This is a surefire hit as a date movie, so make sure to bring that special someone, or at least a worthwhile candidate.

Rounding out the list is the first of several historical epics coming out this year, the disaster-adventure movie “Pompeii.” This version of the story of the doomed Roman city also doubles as an action-romance, with Kit Harrington and Emily Browning as the star-crossed lovers fleeing the impending catastrophe of Mount Vesuvius. Those with a taste for the historical will appreciate the setting, and even those who don’t will find enjoyment in Keifer Sutherland’s portrayal of a corrupt Senator. Any excuse to see Sutherland is a good excuse, although it is a far cry from the 24 actor’s iconic role as Jack Bauer.

This is the first installment of reviews for blockbuster movies in 2014, and hopefully it will help guide moviegoers away from the boring and towards the exhilarating.